Different types of sources serve different purposes in your research. You might start with a brief encyclopedia article (a reference source), then move onto a news article (a popular source), and then look for an in-depth research article (a scholarly source). This page gives definitions and examples of each source type.
A reference source gives brief information about a topic. This information might be a definition, like in a dictionary, or an overview of a subject or term, like in an encyclopedia. A reference source is useful to learn background information, understand basic ideas about a topic, or to get information like names and dates.
The library has many subject-specific reference books, both in print and online. Here are a few examples of online reference entries about college entrance exams (which is the example topic throughout this guide):
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Popular sources are written for the general public, and include news media and magazines. These sources take many forms online.
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Characteristics of popular sources:
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The library provides full-text access to articles from many popular sources. Here are a few examples of articles from major newspapers about college entrance exams:
Scholarly sources are also called "peer-reviewed" or "academic" sources. Academic libraries provide access to scholarly sources for students and faculty.
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Characteristics of scholarly sources:
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Cover of American Journal of Education |
Cover of Arts Education Policy Review |
Here are examples of academic articles about college entrance exams:
